The Regional Development Council 2 (RDC2), through its Committee on Development Administration and Communication (CODAC), conducted the 1st Regional E-Governance Forum on September 26, 2024 at the Pulsar Hotel and Restaurant, Caggay, Tuguegarao City. The forum is the highlight of this year’s RDC Week celebration, with the theme “𝘚𝘢 𝘌-𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘎𝘰𝘣𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘰, 𝘎𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘱𝘦𝘬𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘰.”

 

During his welcome remarks, RDC Vice Chair RD Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr. said that the activity aims to encourage local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies (RLAs), and other government instrumentalities to adopt new technologies to foster digital governance. He said that digitalization is now a fundamental prerequisite to advancing inclusive socioeconomic growth and development.

 

DICT RD Pinky T. Jimenez shared the government’s priority thrust and current digitalization efforts in the region in her keynote message. “Our regional focus on digital literacy, interoperability between platforms, and promoting innovation ecosystems ensures that every resident – from the cities to the coastal and mountainous areas – has the opportunity to thrive in a digital economy,” Director Jimenez said.

 

ARD Elpidio A. Durwin of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), also a keynote speaker, emphasized the role of ICT in improving local governance. He said that digitalization will enable transformation, transparency, and citizen engagement among LGUs.

 

Private-led digital innovations were presented during the forum. These include: (a) the Guardian Ph app of 7Core Communications, (b) the Disaster Information System for Communities and Barangay E-Systems and Tools of Central Visayas Information Sharing Network Foundation, Inc., and (c) the Enhanced Tax Revenue Assessment and Collection System (E-TRACS) of Rameses Systems, Inc. New technologies for improving public service delivery were also presented by the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines.

 

The LGUs also showcased their practices in using ICT in their operations, such as the e-Mapping Digitization Program of Maramag, Bukidnon; Smart City Initiatives of Cauayan City, Isabela; eAmilyar of Libertad, Antique; Innovative Approach for Monitoring and Management of Collections and Disbursements thru GAAMS of Taytay, Rizal; and the Smart City Command Center of Baguio City. The resource persons shared their journey towards digital transformation, which significantly enhanced their processes and systems, increased revenue collections, and improved disaster response.

In closing, Atty. Rodolfo B. Del Rosario Jr., ARTA-Northern Luzon Regional Chief, challenged the LGUs in the region to take the lead in advancing the implementation of automated processes and systems at the local level.

 

More than 150 participants attended the activity coming from the LGUs, RLAs, the private sector, and the academe.